Grapevine

By Al Jazeera
Aug 23, 2024

Indonesia and Australia finalise ‘significant’ defence pact

The move comes as Indonesia’s president-elect Prabowo Subianto prepares to take office later this year.

Australia and Indonesia have finalised a new defence pact, cementing closer ties between the countries as Prabowo Subianto prepares to take office as Indonesia’s next president in October.

The details of the defence agreement, which has been in the works since February 2023, have not been announced. It is believed to include provisions for joint military drills, deployments to each country, and greater maritime cooperation in the disputed South China Sea.

Prabowo, who is presently defence minister but is set to become leader of the world’s third-largest democracy on October 20, is currently on a two-day official visit to Australia.

The deal will officially be signed within days when Australia’s Minister for Defence Richard Marles visits Jakarta.